Not an expert by any stretch but the result of whatever is going on there looks similar to what mine looks like, and I know mine leaks. Nothing major, but a slow leak that only happens while underway. Which may be why you aren't seeing it. When underway water periodically bubbles up from around the seal.

In any case, I sent my broker the photos as he is also a surveyor and is familiar with the situation with my rudders.

As an update, Beneteau has approved the warranty claim on my rudders and they are getting repaired. For reference, the part number for the seals is pn 061140 "Kit Bagues Safrans 60138" quantity 2.

Can't be pure coincidence that all of our ST44's have leaky rudders! Perhaps we should engage with Beneteau at some point to see if there is a better long-term solution. My assumption is that any fix will be temporary, but we'll see.

That is exactly what happened on my 2012 ST44. I ordered an O-ring and sleeve kit from Beneteau and had it installed when the boat was out for bottom paint. That was a year ago and so far no leaks.

Dallas, Were the seals covered under warranty?

Also, new issue; I always try to remember to power down my fresh water pump when leaving boat, but on occasion recently, after leaving the switch on, I hear the water pump making a "soft, machine gun type" noise- not the normal water pumping sound. The noise stops when I open any water valve as the normal sound takes over, and then all goes back to normal, silence.

Just wondering what this is, doesn't sound good. I have no fresh water leaks. Do you think this would be a warranty item?

I couldn't get anyone at Beneteau to talk to me about the problem, except for Ward in the Parts Dept who is always very helpful. The boat was due for bottom paint so I just bought the parts myself and had them installed. Still no problems at this point.

Not sure about your water pump issue. Suggest you make a new post on the issue as maybe someone else has info on this one.

For reference, my port rudder seal repair on my 2014 was covered under warranty. Just went back in the water yesterday. So far so good, although we haven't given it a real test yet as the leak happened at speed.

Good news for you and am glad they are fixed. The local Beneteau dealer advised me that my rudder seals would not be covered under warranty. The boat was bought new Nov. 2012 and I can't find anything to the contrary.

Well, fortunately it's not an overly expensive repair. If you get it done when the boat is hauled out for a bottom painting, it should run you about $600 for one rudder (for both parts and labor). My boat is a 2014, but the warranty will soon expire so I'll be in the same boat as you...pun intended. :-)

Just had both rudder seals replaced on our 2005 42 while out for bottom paint job at Lauderdale Marine Center. Fosters did fine job and cost was about $600 for both. Fosters also spread 5200 around the bottom of the rudder "pipe"/hull flange.

We also replaced both Vetus shaft dual lip seals-one was leaking after 11years/1500hrs.

Just surveyed a ST44. One is leaky and showing signs of corrosion. Is it worth replacing both or leaving the one alone that looks fine now?

Tough call. Given that hauling the boat represents about half the cost of what the repair would run, and the actual rudder seal kit cost is very low (about $120 if I remember correctly), I'd probably replace both.